Hyve Synth Tutorial - 60 poly analog portable synth

Published on Apr 4, 2017 cuckoomusic

"This is the Hyve Touch Synthesiser, designed by Skot Wiedmann. It's currently campaigning on Kickstarter here:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/...

The Hyve Touch Synth is very unique, with it's portable form factor, lovely design, and 60 polyphonic analog architecture. It runs on a 9v battery, or with a power adapter. The sound is an analog square-ish signal. But with a tad of filter on the expressive touch controls, and the hexagon chord friendly layout it makes it highly playable. More so than what you would expect.

Here's a tutorial on the preassembled Hyve. How to play it. What it sounds like. And a number of "jams" or improvised sessions, in combination with mostly a reverb and delay."

Hyve Touch Synth Now on Kickstarter

You all should be familiar with the Hyve Touch synthesizer featured numerous times here on MATRIXSYNTH.

The Hyve Touch is now seeking funding on Kickstarter here. There are both DIY and pre-built options.

The following are some details for those new to the Hyve Touch:

"Hyve Touch Synthesizer is a fun, expressive musical instrument that anyone can make and play. It responds to human touch, even your slightest finger movements give you powerful control. Turning these gestures into sound allows you to play music like never before.

Expressive touch, analog synth

Slide your fingers across the surface to explore new ways to touch sound. It’s a 60-voice polyphonic analog synthesizer that is controlled by pressure, horizontal, and vertical movements of each finger on the surface. Even the smallest wiggle of your finger makes the sound come alive, giving expression to the music you make.

Explore and harmonize

Notes on the Hyve are arranged so that you can easily explore harmonies and tone combinations with small movements of your finger.

The bottom half is arranged like a piano keyboard. Each key senses pressure, vertical position, and horizontal position. Moving vertically allows you to sweep through octaves and harmonically combine them into evolving tones. Horizontal movements push the sound right and left in stereo. Touching the bottom row causes a pressure-controlled pitch bend.

The top half uses a hexagon grid to put notes that sound good together right next to each other. Every adjacent note is harmonically related: straight up is a perfect 5th, up to the right is a major 3rd, and up to the left is a minor 3rd. This means that one finger can play a chord and slide to the next chord in the song. Each hexagon also senses pressure and horizontal position like the bottom half."

Skot Wiedmann: Make the Future of Musical Expression

Vol 22. Skot Wiedmann: Make the future of musical expression

Published on Oct 18, 2016 PechaKuchaNightCU
Update: Re-Published on Oct 20, 2016

Skot Wiedmann on the value of DIY and his Hyve Touch Synthesizer at PechaKucha Night.

Update: ECE Illinois has a post up on Skot's work here.

Arcano MIDI Controller Board Kickstarter Campaign

This one in via Skot Wiedmann of the Hyve Touch synthesizer and Motus Mavis.

You'll find the Kickstarter campaign here.

"The Arcano MIDI Controller Board is an AVR-microcontroller-based device that allows makers and musicians to easily create their own custom MIDI controllers by simply connecting pushbutton switches, such as those used in arcade games. The device connects to a synthesizer via a MIDI cable or a computer via a USB MIDI interface cable. The small form factor and mounting holes make it easy to embed the Arcano MIDI Controller Board in just about any custom MIDI controller project.

The Arcano MIDI Controller Board features 13 note inputs, two octave-control inputs, and a reset input. Input button states are polled 4000 times per second for ultra-low-latency MIDI output. MIDI data is output via a standard MIDI DIN connector, and power is supplied through a mini USB connector.

No programming is required. Each Arcano MIDI Controller Board includes a programmed microcontroller. The device's software has been refined through more than 20 iterations. The latest version features a conventional note-on/note-off mode and three latch modes, which are great for triggering drum samples and loops.

Discover new musical possibilities with the Hyve Touch Synthesizer

Published on Jun 8, 2016 Skot Wiedmann

"Be melodic and expressive, or drum and tap. Here are some fun ways to explore 3D touch and performance gestures on this little synthesizer.

Sign up for updates at http://tiny.cc/hyve"

Skot Wiedmann of the Hyve Touch Synthesizer & Motus Mavis Visits the Sousa Museum

via Skot Wiedman:

"Some photos from my class field trip to the Sousa Museum. What a wonderful opportunity to play the Sal-Mar Construction with a tour from Scott Schwartz, the curator of the museum. We got to take a peek inside and see the massive wiring and circuitry. The archival gloves are conductive so we could play the touch panel. Fascinating interface and great sounds - very deep and complex."

Check out the wires under the front panel of the Sal-Mar below. You'll find the full set of pics from Skot's visit here.

Upcoming Hyve Touch Synthesizer ElectroSound Exhibit in Paris

The Hyve Touch Synthesizer will be at the ElectroSound Exhibit in Paris May 25 to 2 October 2016. You'll find the ElectroSound site in French here and Googlish here.

via Skot Weidmann, creator of the Hyve Touch Synthesizer and the man behind Motus Mavis:

"I am so excited to be a part of the ElectroSound exhibit in Paris.

The Hyve Touch Synthesizer will be included in the Future section of the show, and visitors will get to play it!"

We have Skot to thank for bringing the event to our attention!

Exhibits will also include (apologies for the translations via Google):

Pictured: Daphne Oram

"Jean-Yves Leloup and NoDesign, the commissioners Electrosound, chose a unique perspective to talk about, with the red wire machines and technological innovation. They plunge us into an immersive, interactive experience scanning a wide spectrum of musical productions, from 1945 to today, pioneers and scientists from 1950 to 1970 (Pierre Schaeffer, Robert Moog, Peter Zinoviev, Brian Eno, Jean-Michel Jarre ...) to the current and popular triumph electro. Electrosound, the lab at the dancefloor going back in time, over the 20th century that saw the electricity and electronics invest the musical field, until emergence of a major cultural movement, which is called 'electro', 'house' or 'techno'."

"Electrosound, the lab at the dancefloor, is an exhibition aimed at a wide audience, the curious beginner to the connoisseur. It is divided into six chapters decrypting the major stages of this musical revolution. Around a timeline, she meets machines and period instruments (synthesizers, drum machines, and other strange machines), popular objects of broadcasting and listening to music, archives (from the GRM, EMS studios and many international sources) and artistic photographs by Jean-Jacques or Jacob Ader Khrist, showing changes since search studios 1950s until the DJ culture."

The ArduTouch Arduino-compatible Music Synthesizer Kit by Mitch Altman & Bill Alessi

This one in via Skot Wiedman, the man behind Motus Mavis and the recent Hyve touch synthesizer.

"Last month my friend Mitch Altman came to Champaign-Urbana and he debuted his ArduTouch synthesizer kit as well as his other cool projects for a guest lecture in the Interactivity II class I am teaching here at the University of Illinois.

Here we are in a photo taken by Mitch with the ArduTouch in front of the computer.

I didn't see you cover this cool little instrument yet so I thought to send it in. Here is the build instructions with a closer look at the project.

Enjoy!"

You'll find build notes at Cornfield Electronics here.

"This is a brand new kit as of March-2016 -- still a work in progress.

Solder the kit together, and it works!

Hack the Arduino sketch, and make your own cool synthesizers.

Soon, the documentation will be good enough to learn how to use Digital Signal Processing (DSP) to make your own sounds for your own projects.

The Arduino sketch for this project was mostly written by my friend Bill Alessi."

Update: videos added below.


Published on Aug 26, 2018 mitch altman

Playlist:
ArduTouch: Xoid synthesizer Demo
ArduTouch: Arplogy synthesizer Demo
ArduTouch: Arplogy synthesizer Auto-Improvise Demo
ArduTouch: Thick synthesizer Demo
ArduTouch: Mantra synthesizer Drone A Demo
ArduTouch: Mantra synthesizer Drone B Demo
ArduTouch: Beatitude synthesizer Demo
ArduTouch: DuoPoly synthesizer preset 0 "(Hive) Demo
ArduTouch: DuoPoly synthesizer preset 2 (Industry) Demo
ArduTouch: DuoPoly synthesizer preset 3 (Omission) Demo
ArduTouch: DuoPoly synthesizer preset 4 (Cadiz) Demo
ArduTouch: jamming

The Institute of Sonology

The Institute of Sonology from Eduard Figueres on Vimeo.

"The sonologist moves in the field of electroacoustic music, computer music and sound art. Instead of composing with sounds, as is generally the case in instrumental music, in sonology the sound itself is composed in such a way that it gives expression to musical form. This can take place on the basis of the physical principles of sound, on the basis of perception or on the basis of purely compositional ideas.

Link of the program that was broadcasted on tv:

ccma.cat/tv3/alacarta/blog-europa/laboratoris-de-musica-electronica-la-haia/video/5505336/"

This one in via Skot Wiedmann.

Custom Wood Case for the Hyve Touch Synthesizer

Super nice custom case for the Hyve Touch Synthesizer. More pics here

CLICK FOR MORE »

Harmonic Tone Generator Exhibit Pics

Click here for some pics, in via Skot Wiedmann, of the debut of the Harmonic Tone Generator exhibit, at the Sousa Museum in Urbana-Champaign

Left: The original Harmonic Tone Generator.

via illinois.edu: "The Sousa Archives acquired one of the earliest instruments that composed synthetic music, created by Professor Emeritus James Beauchamp in 1964.

Beauchamp's machine will be exhibited and preserved at the archives, accompanied by a recreated digital version created by ECE electronics services technician Mark Smart.

The instrument was used to compose some of the earliest compositions in electronic music, such as "Underworld" by Salvatore Martirano [embed below]. This type of music would evolve over the years into today's DJ scene."

You'll find articles about the exhibit at the following links:

https://www.ece.illinois.edu..
https://archives.library.illinois.edu..
https://archives.library.illinois.edu...

Below: "Scott Schwartz, Mark Smart, and Jim Beauchamp with the original Harmonic Tone Generator at the Sousa Archives - University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign."

The Sal-Mar is pictured further below. You'll find previous posts including some video of it here.

"The SalMar Construction is displayed next to the Harmonic Tone Generator at the Sousa Archives - University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. What an exciting time in electronic music, with such cross disciplinary collaboration on these instruments and music."

Published on Nov 5, 2014 #SalvatoreMartirano

Skot Wiedmann's Hyve Touch Synthesizer & Interactive LED Panels Coming to the Heartland Maker Fest

Skot Wiedmann will be showing the Hyve Touch Synthesizer and his interactive LED panels at the Heartland Maker Fest in Urbana, IL set for October 3rd. The event will be at the Lincoln Square Mall from 10am – 4pm.

You'll find full details for the event including a list of makers at http://heartlandmakerfest.org.



Loosely Coupled Published on Jul 15, 2015 Film for the Masses

Scot Wiedmann comes in at 1:26.

"A documentary exploring the intersection of engineering and art at the University of Illinois: A prototype of a new interactive LED artwork by Skot Wiedmann inspires discussion of knowledge, beauty, and the possibilities of interdisciplinary approaches.

A Film for the Masses Documentary
Directed by Oswaldo Martínez
Produced by Robin Lin
2015

Featuring:
Kevin Hamilton
Scott Carney
Jamie Hutchinson
Ankit Jain
Skot Wiedmann
Brady Salz
Lippold Haken
Johnny Duan
Serge Minin
Zuofu Cheng
Boaz Wiedmann"

Hyve Touch Synthesizer performed by Skot Wiedmann

Published on Sep 23, 2015 Skot Wiedmann

"The Hyve Touch Synthesizer is a polyphonic analog instrument with 3 axis touch control. To stay updated on this project sign up at http://tiny.cc/HYVE"

Hyve Touch Synthesizer Workshop Pics

A photo montage from the recent Hyve Touch Synthesizer Workshop with Skot Wiedmann last Saturday in Urbana, IL. Click on the pic for the full size shot.

According to Skot: "The workshop was a huge success! Everyone had a wonderful time and got their synthesizer working to take home. Thanks so much for getting the word out! I know of a couple people who came after seeing it on Matrixsynth."

Very cool!

Hyve Touch Synthesizer Workshop with Skot Wiedmann this Saturday

Just a reminder, the Hyve Touch Synthesizer Workshop with Skot Wiedmann (announced here, video here) is this Thursday. Full details here.

The Hyve is Scot Wiedmann's latest creation. He was the man behind the amazing star shaped modular featured at the 2009 NAMM show and Motus Mavis.

The workshop is this coming Saturday April 4 at 2pm, at the Independent Media Center (where the Makerspace and other cool community organizations are). The address is 202 S Broadway Ave, Urbana, IL 61801.

Hyve Touch Synthesizer Demo

IEEE-UIUC Hyve Synthesizer Demonstration Published on Mar 15, 2015

There's a workshop coming up on April 2 at the University of Illinois where you can build your own Hyve. Details here (previously posted here). The Hyve is Scok Wiedmann's latest creation. He was the man behind the amazing star shaped modular featured at the 2009 NAMM show and Motus Mavis.

"This video is a demo of the Hyve Synthesizer, a really cool audio electronic project developed (and explained) by Skot Wiedmann."

Hyve Touch Synthesizer Workshop with Skot Wiedmann

"April 4, 2015 - Urbana, IL

Build your own polyphonic analog synthesizer with a multi touch interface. No experience necessary, open to everyone. At 2pm makers, musicians, artists, and students will be guided through an introduction into circuitry and will be making music on their very own touch synthesizer a couple hours later. The instrument is a 60 note polyphonic analog synthesizer. The multi touch interface senses your fingers position on each key and how hard you are pressing for fun finger wiggling playing. Cost: $40. Sign up at tiny.cc/HYVE"

The Hyve is Scot Wiedmann's latest creation. He was the man behind the amazing star shaped modular featured at the 2009 NAMM show and Motus Mavis.

Skot Wiedmann of Motus Mavis Featured in Yahoo Design Expo

Innovative Tech Design at Yahoo Design Expo


Skot Wiedman comes in at 2:33 with his gestural touch controller. If you are familiar with his work, see the Motus Mavis label below and of course his website MotusMavis.com. He brought us the Star Shaped Modular featured in NAMM 2009 and one of my favorite knob styles that resembles a buzz saw imo. See the label below for more including video of the star shaped modular. Yahoo Design Expo video description: "A handheld cube that lets you browse your Flickr photos. A headset that uses brainwaves to control how fast a bicyclist pedals. And Megaphone, a game that lets users play against each in public spaces with their mobile phones. Those were some of the concepts on display at the recent Yahoo Design Expo. Originally conceived by Joy Mountford when she was at Apple, the event brings together out-of-the-box design ideas by students from around the world. In this video, the Mercury News speaks with Mountford, now vice president of User Experience Design at Yahoo, and demos some of the projects."

NAMM: 2009 NAMM Show

flickr by Mark Dalzell

The red controller on the bottom is the Haken Continuum. Anyone know what the star shaped device is?

Update: I found more info on patcharena.com (check it out for a better image): "Mysterious unnamed super synth at the Hakken Audio Booth! I'll try and find out more about this unique synthesizer today. The inventor mentioned that he was inspired by neural networks. Note that those blue pads above the rotary knobs are touch sensitive as well. Every section is unique and will exhibit different behavior based on what it's connected to. You can find the creator's website with more photos here"

Update via adam s in the comments: "It's a custom instrument by Skot Wiedmann.
http://motusmavis.com"